Holly Jones — Representative Holly Jones introduces and presents House Bill 2308, explaining that it is intended to restore parenting time lost after a parent is falsely accused of child abuse and later exonerated. In response to questions, she clarifies that the bill is meant to address both the parent’s and the child’s interests, that the remedy should not depend on a judge’s discretion because circumstances vary, and that the bill is limited to child abuse allegations rather than other unrelated issues. She also explains that the bill should apply even if the allegation came from a source other than a spouse, such as a school or health care provider, because the child should still regain the lost time.
Robert Garza — Robert Garza testified about his lived experience as the drafter of the bill, explaining that he endured 43-plus false allegations over roughly 16 years, spent about $700,000, and lost two to three years of parenting time even though he never lost custody. He said the allegations moved through a chain involving a mandatory reporter, CPS, and then family court, wasting public resources and enabling repeated emergency protective orders or restraining orders, especially around holidays. Garza described this as a recurring abuse of the system, said the bill is intended to stop those tactics and require make-up parenting time, and clarified that the allegations were not direct filings by his ex in family court but were uncovered later through subpoenaed home-study records.
Lincoln Brewbaker — Lincoln Brewbaker introduces himself as a Missouri resident, business owner, landowner, and father of three daughters, then explains that he is currently unable to be with his daughters despite having a court order that is not being enforced. He says this experience led him to help and coach other parents dealing with severe alienation and separation, noting that he has worked with more than 200 parents over the past four years, including cases outside Missouri such as one in England. He closes by pleading with Missouri to address the problem so he can return to his company and stop doing this unpaid support work.
Aaron Doer — Aaron Doer, speaking on behalf of the Missouri Firearms Coalition, testified in strong support of the bill and explained that it combines prior provisions, clarifies preemption law, and addresses red flag and local gun restrictions.
Susan Myers — Susan Myers testified in support of HB 2176, identifying herself as the State Director of Women for Gun Rights and a member of Armed Women of America. She opposed red flag laws and extreme risk protection orders, saying female firearms owners strongly oppose them, and shared a personal concern that such a complaint could be filed against her husband. She also supported the bill’s self-defense presumption of innocence provision, arguing that self-defense claims should be heard before trial and thanking the sponsor.
Ed Paltzik — Cited as litigation counsel for the Second Amendment Foundation and quoted regarding guilt-by-association confiscation.
Kristen Bowen — Kristen Bowen, a Columbia resident and volunteer with Moms Demand Action, testifies in opposition to HB 2176. She urges the committee to oppose the bill because she believes it would further weaken the state’s gun laws, would not prevent gun violence, and would expand self-defense immunity. She also argues that the bill undermines due process in the criminal justice system and interferes with enforcement of red flag laws and other public safety practices.
Unnamed witness — Said she speaks for volunteers around the state, noted both she and Representative Smith are from Columbia, and described a volunteer's family experience with suicide by firearm.
Unnamed witness — Described a volunteer's father, a Korean War veteran, who died by suicide with a firearm, and said she carries volunteers' stories with her.
Unnamed witness — Said she is the sister of someone with mental health struggles.
Unnamed witness — Described her family's experience removing firearms from a home in a mental health crisis.
Unnamed witness — Argued that suicide is under-discussed compared with mass shootings and intimate partner violence.
Unnamed witness — Asked for statistics on the prevalence of suicide in Missouri.
Unnamed witness — The witness is thanked, and a committee member begins a comment about fathers, fatherlessness, and mental illness.
HB276 — The witness expresses support for HB 276, describing it as an anti-red-flag gun seizure act. They say they agree with most of its provisions but raise concern about the $50,000 penalty for law enforcement.
R.N.C. A.C. Dinoff — Identified as a state public advocate testifying in favor of HB 276.
SB85 — Senate Bill 85 is discussed as the subject of a recent U.S. Eighth Circuit case involving the state of Missouri. The speaker explains that the bill’s provisions, especially the $50,000 fine, were central to the dispute and notes that this was the main issue for law enforcement.
Renee Reuter — Referenced as having suggested trusting families to make the call in a prior exchange.
John Simmons — John Simmons was called during the roll call and again during the roll call vote as part of the same procedural attendance/voting sequence.
John Simmons — John Simmons questioned the practical mechanics of the bill’s make-up parenting time provisions after an abuse allegation is found unfounded, asking how lost custody time would be restored over different lengths of time and whether the other parent would simply receive additional weekends or an extended period of make-up time. He also raised fairness concerns, asking whether the parent who lost time should get it back and whether the bill’s mandatory language might be changed. Later, he returned to the issue and commented that the bill seemed fair overall because the other parent had already benefited from the lost time during the investigation period, making the arrangement feel balanced and smooth.
David Tyson Smith — David Tyson Smith was called during the roll call and again during the roll call vote, reflecting his mention in the same procedural sequence.
David Tyson Smith — Representative Smith questioned the witness about his personal custody and child-protection case, confirming it was in Texas rather than Missouri and probing the details of the 43 false allegations or claims. He asked whether each claim led to supervised visitation, whether the matter involved protection orders or child protection orders, how many claims actually went forward, whether the witness had been in a 16-year divorce with shared custody during that period, and whether the situations were more akin to child orders of protection or hotline-triggered protective services investigations.
David Tyson Smith — Representative David Tyson Smith questions the bill sponsor about how the bill treats firearms for people out on bond, including concerns about the dangerous-felony carve-out and whether the bill should be amended to address the hypothetical scenario he raises. The sponsor responds directly to his line of questioning, and Smith’s questioning time then expires.
David Tyson Smith — Representative David Tyson Smith was recognized during the hearing, stated that he did not have a question, and instead thanked the witness for coming and for their advocacy on the issue. The exchange then moved on to the next member.
Rudy Veit — Rudy Veit was called during the roll call and again during the roll call vote, reflecting his participation in the meeting’s procedural attendance and voting process.
Rudy Veit — Representative Rudy Veit questioned whether the bill assumes the other spouse is always the accuser and whether the bill should explicitly require the accuser to be the other spouse, expressing concern about how the rule would apply in custody-related situations and whether it could unfairly penalize a non-accusing spouse.
Cecelie Williams — Cecelie Williams was called during the roll call and again during the roll call vote, reflecting her presence in the meeting’s procedural attendance and voting sequence.
Jaclyn Zimmermann — Jaclyn Zimmermann was called during the roll call and again during the roll call vote as part of the meeting's procedural attendance and voting process.
Ben Keathley — Rep. Keathley is referenced during a continuous discussion about the bill’s treatment of children and parents. The speaker notes that a point raised by Representative Fett is already built into the bill and then continues by returning to the kids and parents, keeping the discussion focused on the same issue.
Kurtis Gregory — Kurtis Gregory is referenced during the meeting’s opening roll call and procedural proceedings: he is called as Vice Chair, responds 'Yes' during the roll call vote, and is again addressed as Vice Chairman.
Ian Mackey — Ian Mackey was called during roll call and later responded 'No' when his vote was recorded.
Ian Mackey — Referenced by name as having made an earlier example about a school shooting.
Mark Matthiesen — Mark Matthiesen was called during the roll call and again during the roll call vote as part of the same procedural sequence.
Renee Reuter — Renee Reuter is called during the roll call and again during the roll call vote as part of the same procedural sequence.
Renee Reuter — Said she has seen similar cases and is glad the bill was brought forward, but questioned a missing provision.
Renee Reuter — Begins a follow-up inquiry about the scissors example and firearm possession at home.
Ben Keathley — Ben Keathley is referenced during the meeting’s opening procedural sequence: he is called as Chair during roll call, later responds 'Yes' during the roll call vote, and is subsequently addressed as 'Mr. Chairman.'
Ben Keathley — Rep. Keathley is referenced twice in quick succession as having described the case or matter as extreme. In the same exchange, Rep. Craig is identified as the member asking to inquire, and Rep. Keathley is also noted as the bill handler/chair involved in the discussion.